SEVEN suspected illegal workers were arrested as officials carried out a sweep of three Merseyside addresses.

All of those arrested are believed to have been found cleaning jobs through Birkenhead-based Entire Facility Management Services Ltd.

The UK Border Agency (UKBA) investigation into seven men and woman from the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Ivory Coast is still ongoing.

A spokesman for Entire Facility Management Services told the ECHO last year it had worked closely with the UKBA, opening its records on current and past employees, and strenuously denied any wrongdoing.

The spokesman claimed that already some of those arrested had been released without charge and added the company had co-operated fully by giving four statements to officers.

He added: “We as a company have proven that we are following all required Government checks.”

On February 12 when UKBA officers visited The Richard John Blackler pub, on Great Charlotte Street, Liverpool city centre, they arrested two men and a woman from the Democratic Republic of Congo.

One of the men and the woman are said to have given counterfeit documents to gain work illegally.

Another man from the Ivory Coast, believed to be a failed asylum seeker using a false identity, was arrested at The Fall Well pub in St Johns Way, Liverpool city centre.

A further three women were arrested at Silkhouse Court, Tithebarn Street, Liverpool on February 11.

The women, two from the Democratic Republic of Congo and one from Brazzaville, are again believed to have used false identities to gain work.

Jo Liddy, Regional Director of the UK Border Agency in the North West, said: "We will not tolerate illegal working.”